Last week, I wrote about Melissa Harris-Perry’s departure from MSNBC, as the host of her hit talk show, The MHP Show. I spent a considerable portion of the article talking about the significance of Dr. Harris-Perry leaving the show, even amid my own concerns about the future of marginalized voices in visible media spaces. Over the weekend, Ben Carter, YouTube host and author, published an essay in Blavity, calling Dr. Harris-Perry’s rationale and decision into question. Upon reading his assessment, I realized that one conversation I didn’t spend time unpacking that I perhaps should have, is a discussion about power, ownership and Black women.

Last week, I wrote about Melissa Harris-Perry’s departure from MSNBC, as the host of her hit talk show, The MHP Show. I spent a considerable portion of the article talking about the significance of Dr. Harris-Perry leaving ...

Today is December 7th.On December 6th, 1865 the United States ratified the 13th Amendment, officially abolishing slavery. In our short, historical memories, 150 years may feel like a short time, but it really isn’t. By my estimation, I am probably five or six generations removed from my father’s family’s enslavement, which is also about as long as my mother’s (white) family has been attending college. So that’s awkward.

Today is December 7th.On December 6th, 1865 the United States ratified the 13th Amendment, officially abolishing slavery. In our short, historical memories, 150 years may feel like a short time, but it really isn’t. By my estimation, ...

In this image, we see two women of status, Dido Elizabeth Belle alongside her cousin, white Lady Elizabeth Murray. It is an oil portrait from 1779. I’m no art historian, but I can tell you that the image communicated an intimacy and nod towards an equality in social status that I hadn’t seen in European paintings of dark skinned peoples from the medieval through to the Victorian period. A great Tumblr,People of Color in European Art History has collected a host of images and in most of them, the darker body is subordinate to the lighter body. While Murray assumes considerable real estate in the foreground ...

When Ani DiFranco decided to host a creative retreat at the Nottoway Plantation, she clearly didn’t think about what kind of statement she was making.

It is evident that she did not stop to consider how hosting a retreat at a plantation that at one point enslaved 150 humans helps to reinforce our historical amnesia and romanticization when it comes to the brutality that was slavery. Many bloggers quickly explained just what was so messed up about the whole debacle, which made me feel a bit better, but also left me feeling slightly unsettled. Where is the line between indulging in rosy-colored stories of happy slaves and remembering the suffering that our nation was built upon? Can we ...

When Ani DiFranco decided to host a creative retreat at the Nottoway Plantation, she clearly didn’t think about what kind of statement she was making.

As I write this, more than 29 million people are living in slavery. This statistic comes from the first index on modern-day slavery in 162 countries, released by the Australia-based Walk Free Foundation on Thursday. According to the Foundation, slavery today includes forced labor and human trafficking. While India has the greatest number of slaves, the country with the biggest percentage of the population living in slavery is Mauritania. Infographics after the jump.

As I write this, more than 29 million people are living in slavery. This statistic comes from the first index on modern-day slavery in 162 countries, released by the Australia-based Walk Free ...

Search

We need your help!

Get Our Newsletter

New posts and Feministing news delivered to your inbox weekly!

Want to write for us?

All Feministing posts are written by the site’s collective of regular columnists and editors. Though we don’t currently accept guest submissions, we have an open platform Community site to which anyone can contribute. We often promote our favorite Community posts on the main site. And Community bloggers who consistently impress us may to be invited to become regular Feministing columnists..